Candida in mouth (but no white patches)

I'm a 39 year old microbiology student who recently had a lab in which we tested our saliva.  The tubes were incubated for 3 days and I did a gram stain on the growth, expecting to find lactobacillus or other resident bacteria.  However, what I found was only yeast, probably Candida (but we're still testing to be sure) and a few cells.  Nothing else.  I haven't been taking antibiotics lately.  I do sometimes have stomach problems and cant' recall whether I had taken any Prilosec on the day the sample was taken.  My Professor and the lab assistant (who is a registered nurse) both said they'd never seen this before in the lab.  I don't have any outward signs of thrush.  What could be the reason for this, and should I be concerned?

[scottma]

Since you are in the field of health profession,I would recommend you review the textbook titled" Burket's oral medicine,11th edition", page79-84.. which will provide you detailed information.Other oral microbiology textbook may provide you additional information.
regards

[babydane]

Thank you for your note, however, I am a student going into the health fields, and do not have access to such texts.  Would you be able to at least point me in the direction of what the text is discussing on those pages, and I'll go from there?  Thanks again.

[scottma]

Those pages provide detailed information for clinician to diagnose and manage oral candidiasis. in brief, if you do'nt present clinical lesion and symptoms, the diagnosis of candidiasis can not be established. if biopsy specimen is available, if we see "budding of hyphae", we tend to label active infection. if only hyphae are present, we tend to label inactive infection. If you are highly motivated, disscussion with an oral pathologist is encouraged.

[babydane]

Thank you, that is helpful.